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Armed Forces Covenant

East Kent Military Masons

About Us

Following on from the signing or the Armed Forces Covenant by our Provincial Grand Master, a small group was formed to help put into action and connect those who are serving and those who have served within East Kent.
From that, East Kent Military Masons was formed in April 2024, but it is not just about us “vets”, it is about the wider community of those who have served in our armed forces, connecting with them and families.

Where to find help

Veterans Gateway

The Veterans’ Gateway is for any ex-service personnel and their families looking for advice or support – whatever they are dealing with. They provide the first point of contact to a network of military and non-military partner organisations to help you find exactly what you need, when you need it – whether you’re in the UK or overseas. For 24-hour support go to Veterans’ Gateway or call 0808 802 1212.

Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo)

The Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) represents the whole serving and veterans community and promotes the welfare and general interests of the armed forces community.

Support Line

A Vast resource of help and services for vets.  LINK 

The Not Forgotten

https://thenotforgotten.org/

The Not Forgotten transforms the lives of injured, ill and isolated veterans and serving personnel and their families by bringing people together, restoring confidence, and fostering camaraderie and support.

Our values of empathy, excellence, comradeship and teamwork run through everything we do. We provide a caring and genuinely personal service, our small team getting to know our beneficiaries personally, developing real relationships and listening to their needs and worries and sharing the ups and downs of their lives. We work with every individual to help them with their own route to recovery and know that many need to attend multiple events on that journey.

Veterans Agency Helpline:

0808 1914 218
www.veterans-uk.info
Advice and information on veterans issues including war pensions or war widow pensions.

SSAFA:

0800 260 6780
www.ssafa.org.uk
Free confidential helpline completely independent of the military chain of command. Civilian staff provide a supportive, listening and signposting service for serving personnel and their families as well as former members of the armed Forces. The telephone support line is available 365 days a year and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Combat Stress

We provide clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, focusing on those with complex mental health issues resulting from their experiences during military service. When some military personnel leave service, their experiences can’t easily be left behind. Without treatment, psychological trauma can eventually tear lives apart.https://combatstress.org.uk/

Veterans Welfare Service 

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), is part of Veterans UK and provides one-to-one support to veterans via a national network of welfare managers across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Phone or email the Veterans UK helpline and ask for the Welfare Service.

Royal British Legion

Royal British Legion is here to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

FORWARD ASSIST

Op Fortitude

0800 952 0774
https://www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/veterans/opfortitude/
Government Helpline to help Homeless Veterans or Veterans at risk of Homelessness 

Op COURAGE

Op COURAGE is an NHS specialist mental health service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. Range of support and treatment including: helping you to transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care by Defence Medical Services; helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma; providing support and treatment for substance abuse and addictions; helping you to access other mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS Talking Therapies Service and eating disorder services; liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment; supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services.

All the above information has been sourced from verified websites and government departments. We at East Kent Freemasons do not accept any responsibility for the links above.

Breakfast Clubs

The Official AFVBC (Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club) is a vital community where veterans come together to share stories, find support, and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Our mission is to create a warm and welcoming space for veterans from all branches, making sure the support and welfare needs of veterans are fulfilled outside the breakfast clubs and not just the time spent at the breakfast clubs.
By fostering camaraderie and offering a network of like-minded comrades, we aim to ensure that veterans feel valued and appreciated for their service.

Gallery

Pictures from the recent Not Forgotten Event in East Kent
For a full report, click here

FALL OUT

We are very much in the early stages of getting together this gropup of Veterans in East Kent, but we are driven to help, support and bring veterans across our Province together. For further information and to join our band of merry men, drop us an email by using the link above.

WBro Paul Gear ProvGCO ex Royal Marines Band Service

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